Adjusting device for awning arms



May 12, 1931. H. BRA'NCH 1,804,550,

ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR AWNING ARMS Filed March 1, 1930 iii! INVENTOR. 3 fifi/mr Bra/v01.

A TTORNE Y5.

Patented May 12, 1931 rarer 'orrlcs HARRY BRANCH, OF TERRE I-IAUTE, INDIANA ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR AWNING ARMS Application filed March 1,

This invention relates to an adjusting device for awning arms.

Awnings for store fronts and windows are often mounted upon a roller which may be rotated for elevating the awning. The outer edge of the awning is commonly supported upon a horizontal bar having a plurality of jointed arms attached thereto. The said arms are pivotally attached to the wall of the buil ding at their opposite ends. In the raising of the awning a central oint in the said arms breaks, allowing the awning to be raised. In many of the common forms of connection for the ends of the arms to the frame of the building no provision is made for adjusting the angle of the arms. Therefore, when the awning is lowered, it invariably comes to rest at the same point. It is desirable in many cases that an awning have a certain amount of adjustment as tothe angle at which it projects from the building. In order to accomplish this, it is necessary that the connection between the arm and the building be made adjustable. Where an adjustment has been provided heretofore, it has been of a type requiring the labor of two men to make the adjustment, one man supportingandmoving the awning arm and a second man loosening and then tightening a group of retaining bolts.

The principalobject of the present invention is to provide a connection which may be easily adjusted by one man without the necessity of loosening bolts or other fastenings and which, when once adjusted, is automatically locked in place so that no danger is present from accidental falling of the awning. By this means a great saving is obtained in convenience, time and labor.

The principal feature of the invention by which thisobject is obtained is the provision 'ofa bracket for each of the awning'arms which may be mounted upon the building and which carries a yoke or clevis member which may be moved. about substantially bar ton 1930. Serial No, 432,362.

tal axis. The awning arm is pivotallyconn cted to said yoke or clevis member. A worm wheel is associated with said member and may be rotated for moving said member by means of a worm engaging therewith. The worm is provided with means for attaching 'a tool thereto for rotation thereof to eflect the desired adjustment. Since a worm and worm wheel have the well known property'of locking themselves against movement due to a force acting upon. the worm wheel, the said device is self-locking in any position in which it may be left.

Other objects and features of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims: 7

Fig. 1 1s a s1de elevational view in section through an awning showing an awning arm otally attached to the member 14. The said arm is pivotally attached at its upper endby means of pin 16 to a clevis or yoke member 17. Intermediate the ends of said arms 15 is a; joint 82 formed about a pin 18 having an axis parallel with the axis of pin 16. The yoke member 17 hasa shank 19 which finds a bearing in a bracket 20 carried upon the building wall 13. The said shank has a squared end 21 upon which is carried a worm gear 22. The said gear is herein shown having teeth upon apart only. If necessary, however, it may be constructed as a complete gear. A cotter pin 23 or other suitable means isased. for maiata niag t e .2 upon.

the shank 21. The bracket 20 carries hearing lugs 24 through which is inserted a vertical stem 25. The upper end of the stem 25 is fitted with a washer 26 and cotter pin 27 or other suitable means for maintaining the same in position. Between the bearings 24 the stem 25 carries a worm 28 fastened thereto by means of a pin 29 or other suitable means. The said worm engages the teeth of the worm wheel 22. The lower end of the stem 25 is squared as illustrated at 80 for the reception of a tool for rotating the said stem and worm.

In the operation of raising the awning, the roller 11 is rotated by any suitable means, thereby drawing the awning l0 and member 14 thereto and causing the central joint of the arm 15 to break. The said arm then assumes the position indicated by broken lines 81. In this movement, the upper end of the arm 15 pivots about the pin 16, the said pin being maintained at its original position. To lower .the awning, the roller is allowed to rotate in the opposite direction and the awning returns to its initial position.

Toadjust the angle at which the arms 15 and the awning will extend from the building, a tool is applied to the squared end 30 of each of the stems 25. r The said stems are rotated thereby to rotate the worms 28, worm gears 22-and clevis members 17. This causes rotation of the arms 15 about the axis of the clevis members 17 allowing the same to as sume any desired angle with respect to the building. lVhen once set in a desired position, the arms are locked against undesired movement from that'position by the action of the worm and wheel.

Numerous variations from the details of the apparatus herein described are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. F or example, the stems 25 may be continued downwardly to be reached directly by a person standing on the ground. The said stems may also be suitably connected so that all ofthe arms for a given awning may be simultaneously adjusted.

' The invention claimed is: j I

1. An adjusting device for jointed awning arms including a'braclretia clevisrot'atably mounted thereon and adapted to be pivotally connected to one end of a jointed awning arm, a worm gear associated with said clevis and adapted to rotate the same for adjustingthe angleof said arm, and a worm engaging said worm gear for rotating I the same and for locking the same in a desired position.

2. An adjusting device for jointed awning arms including a bracket, a clevis rotatably mounted thereon and adapted to be pivotally connected to one end of a jointed awning arm, a worm-gear associated with said clevis and adapted to rotate the same for adjusting the angle of said arm, a worm engaging said worm gear for rotating the same and for locking the same in a desired position, and means attached to said worm for the engagement of a tool for rotating the same.

3. An adjusting device for jointed awning arms including a bracket, a clevis rotatably mounted thereon and adapted to be pivotally connected to one end of a jointed awning arm, a worm gear associated with said clevis and adapted to rotate the same for adjusting the angle of said arm, a worm engaging said worm gear for rotating the same and for locking the same in a desired position, said worm being located with its axis substantially vertical, and a vertically-disposed rotat able member fixed to said worm and having its lower end formedfor engagement with a rotating tool and accessible from beneath the awning.

4. In combination with a jointed awning arm adapted to support the outer edge of an awning in fixed positionwhen said awning is lowered and adapted to fold to permit raising of said awning, an adjusting device for adjusting the fixed position of said awning, including a stationary member, a member mounted thereon free for movement about a substantially horizontal axis and adapted to be connected to the inner end of said awning arm, a worm gear'associated with said lastmentioned member and adapted to move the same about said axis for adjusting the angle of said arm, and a worm engaging said worm gear for rotating the same and for locking the same in a desired position.

5. In combination with a jointed awning arm adapted to support the outer edge of an awning in fixed position when said awning is lowered and-adapted to fold to permit raising of saidawning, an adjusting device for adjusting the fixed position of said awning, includin a stationary member, a member mounted thereon free for movement about a substantially horizontal axis and adapted to be connected to the inner end of said awning arm, a worm gear associated with saidlast-mentioned member and adapted to move the same about said axis for adjusting the angle-of said arm, a worm engaging said worm gear for rotating the same and for locking the same in a desired position, and means attached tosaid worm for the engagement of a tool for rotating the same. a

6. In combination with a jointed awning arm adapted to support the outer edgeof an awning in fixed position when said awning is lowered and-adapted to fold to permit raising of-said awning, an adjusting device for adjusting the fixed position of said awning, including a stationary member, amember mounted thereon free for movement about a substantially horizontal axis and adapted to be connected to the inner end of said awning arm, a worm gear associated with said lastmentioned member and adapted to move the sameabout said axis for adjusting the angle of said arm, a worm engaging said worm gear;

for rotating the same and for locking the same in a desired position, said worm being located with its axis substantially Vertical,

' and a Vertically-disposed rotatable member fixed to said Worm and having itsv lower end i formed for engagement with a rotating tool and accessible from beneath the awning.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto aflixed my signature.

HARRY BRANCH. 

